Today my first puppy puppy in many years had her first birthday! And while Sadie is always celebrated – she brings a lot of life to this sleepy senior retirement home every moment – today is a special one. Today also marks our 10 month anniversary together, and that part really feels unreal. Time with her has gone so fast, and her size has increased several times over.
Sadie is such an unbelievably loving, sensitive, nurturing soul. When I was going back and forth in my brain last fall about whether I “should” foster fail and adopt her, I believed that if I did I would have to focus on her training and stop fostering, at least for awhile. And obviously that was wrong. She has been the BEST ambassador for all of the foster dogs and kittens.
Sadie loved everything about having our two pit bull foster girls, Mya and Baby, in the winter. Their wrestling matches ruined a few collars, but their spirits were always high when they were able to chase and play. She snuggles and watches out for the tiny kittens, and when they get older, her tail is always a favorite kitten toy.
She gets me out into the world for a walk every day. Having a reason to get outside and live in the present moment for an hour every day has been the biggest gift. Sadie helps me remember what it feels like to be curious about everything and that we are all here for one another on this planet. She also gives the best hugs, and checks on me throughout the work day to climb in my lap for a loving and inconvenient reminder that living and loving is more important than work sometimes.
She is also a fierce protector. As my first big dog, I love having her size on my side and in my yard. Because she was such a sensitive puppy, I figured like so many of my dogs who have come before, her protectiveness would be all show. However, recently, we have met a few people and dogs on walks or out in the yard that have inspired her to find her deep, guttural hound voice, and I know she gets a feeling about some circumstances that she doesn’t appreciate, and she lets the world know about it.
Sadie is the life of the party over here, and I can’t wait to see how she grows (hopefully not any more in size, however!) this year.
In honor of my girl’s birthday, we would both like to encourage you to sign up as a foster for your local rescue or humane society. You never know where you’ll fall in love and meet your new best friend. Sadie is my most recent foster fail, but she certainly will not be the last. Hug your pets one extra time in honor of my love-filled-to-the-brim birthday girl today!
